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Cama-i’s "Heart of the Drums" ceremonial performance started when more than 45 drummers marched from backstage and dispersed to the top row of both sides of the bleachers that line Bethel Regional High School’s gymnasium. The drummers spanned three generations and were of mixed genders.
John Pingayak, a 74-year-old Elder from Chevak, sits down in the Bethel Regional High School music room, which has been temporarily converted into Cama-i Headquarters. It’s the end of the first night of Cama-i and he just finished performing alongside his Pingayak Dance Group. He was honored and received the Cama-i 2023 Living Treasure Award after singing, dancing, and drumming on stage in the Warrior Dome for over 20 minutes.
The band will perform at the Dillingham High School gym on Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ahead of the concert, musicians Phillip and Qacung Blanchett spoke with KDLG about what to look forward — and what they’re listening to right now.
Blizzards and deep snow have made travelling around Bethel more dangerous recently. Last week, Bethel Search and Rescue engaged in four searches for overdue travelers. One woman from Kasigluk was found dead just south of Bethel; the others made it home safely. BSAR President Mike Riley said that in all four instances, heavy snow was a factor. “With the recent searches we had, they didn't anticipate this much snow on the tundra, on the trails, and they burned all their gas up because of plowing through snow pulling a heavy load. And they weren't able to travel anymore,” Riley said.